Key-seating machine.



B. HfBUCHER.

KEY SEAHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-31,1917.

SHEET I.

Patented Dec. 17

2 SHEETS a co. rmwounm" wAsnnmrou, n. C.

B H. BUCHER.

KEY SEATING MAfiHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I, 1917.

/ MALMA/ y r w FFTQ BERTRAM H. BUGHER, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.

KEY-SEATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1?, 1918.

Application filed August 31, 1917. Serial No. 189,152.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM H. BUCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Key-Seating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to machines for forming key seats or grooves in shafting and the like; and it proposes, briefly, certain improvements hereinafter fully explained, in or relating to the traveling carrier or support wherein the rotary cutter is mounted, the object of the improvements being to completely avoid the torsional or twisting strains which are exerted to greater or less extents upon the cutter carriers as now constructed while in motion.

The invention aims also to provide an improved cutter carrier which may be returned to its initial position upon the shaft much more simply and rapidly than in the conventional dorm of machine. This object is accomplished, according to the invention, by interposiug a clutch in the threaded spindle or screw drive, which is coupled during the normal or forward rotation of the spindle, but is uncoupled at the completion of such rotation so as to permit said spindle to be directly rotated in the reverse or return direction.

The invention further resides in the particular combination and arrangement of parts and features illustrated in the accompanying drawing; but it is to be understood that no limitation to the precise structural details therein disclosed is contemplated, eX cept in so far as necessarily imposed by the terms of the appended claims.

In the said drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved machine;

F ig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a view in elevation, looking'towa rd the cutter end of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 55, Fig. 2.

F ig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but looking toward the clutch end of the machine.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawing, 7 indicates the shaft or other element wherein the desired key seat or groove is to be formed by the cutter 8 in the manner subsequently described, the cutter carrier besupported to travel along said shaft as the operation proceeds.

In the construction illustrated, which may be regarded for all present purposes as preferred, the aforesaid carrier is shown as in the form of an elongated tube Or sleeve 9 of cast metal, supported upon front and rear frames 10 and 11, and provided adjacent its opposite ends with hearing openings wherein the ends of an axially-arranged threaded spindle or screw 12 are journaled. The front end of this sleeve is enlarged at 13, directly in advance of the corresponding end of the spindle to provide a vertical guide head, against which is slidably arranged a plate is forming part of the cutter head or carrier proper, and having its sides d0vetailed with the side edges of the guide head; said guide head being constructed at its top with aforwardly-projecting lug 15. This lug 15 is furnished with an opening, which alines with a threaded opening in a lug or projection 16, formed on the upper end of the plate 1%, the latter being also provided with a pair of spaced bearing sleeves 17 (Figs. 1 and 4), wherein the horizontal cutter shaft 18 is rotatably mounted. The cut ter head, together with the cutter and its shaft, is adjusted by means of a vertical screw 19 which has fixed to it a collar 20 swiveled in the opening in the upper lug 15, said screw passing through the threaded opening in the lower lug l6 and being pr0- vided with an operating handle 21; the arrangement being such that the cutter may be fed toward and kept pressed against the work by turning the screw 19 in one direction. and may be withdrawn by turning said screw in the opposite direction, as will be understood. The cutter itself is of the ratchet type, as is usual in machines'of this character.

The two frames 10 and 11 are so constructed and arranged as to provide for a relative movement therebetween. According to the present construction, the enlargement or guide head 13 is formed at its base with a pair of inwardly-directed wings 22 (Fig. l), whose upwardly and inwardly inclined upper faces rest upon the upper surface of the worl. as shown. These wings 22 have fastened to them depending bolts 23, connected by a tie-bar 24: which carries an antifriction roller 25 that engages against the under surface of the work. The rear frame 11 has an upper port-ion in the form of a split sleeve 26, which encircles the main 01' spindle sleeve 9 and is clamped in place by bolts 2 insertedL through pairs of perforated lugs or ears 28 formed in opposite relation on the free edges of the split sleeve, the latter bei j furnished adjacent its ends with transversely-arranged reinforcing webs or flanges 29. From the bottom of this split sleeve 26, there extends a pair of diverging wings 30, (Fig. whose out-turned ends are secured by depending bolts 31, connected by a tie-bar 32-, which is adapted to be held firmly against the under face of the work by tightening the nuts 33 provided on the lower ends of the bolts, both the latter and the belts being threaded for that purpose.

In consequence of this arrangement, the rear frame 11 will be kept from. moving along the work when the nuts 33 are tight ened up, whereas the front frame is donod to slide toward and from the said rear frame during the rotation of the screw spindle 12, according as such rotation is in one direction or the other. means are provided, therefore, to hold the sleeve or casing 9 against turning during its movement with the front frame, so as to avoid torsional strains; such means being here shown as comprising a tongue 3st, (Figs. 3 and 5), which is formed on a collar 35 and is rigidly fastened to the split sleeve 26 at the point of junction between said sleeve and its wings 30. This collar 35, which is internally threaded, encircles the screw spindle 12, and is itself loosely encircled by the sleeve 9; and the tongue 3% projects through and is designed to travel in a longitudinal slot 36 formed in the lower portion of said sleeve 9.

To effect the desired rotation of the screw spindle, the rotary movement imparted to the cutter shaft 18 is preferably utilized, such movement being obtained in any suit able i anner, as, for instance, by providing one end of said shaft with a gear 37, which meshes with and is driven by a smaller gear '5 Q). The latter gear is fixed to which is j OlitillltiCl in a beara sl ort son .1 ing provided for it in the enlarged guide head 13, and has a squared end for engagement in the socketed end of a handle l0. On the opposite end of the cutter shaft from that which carries the gear 37, there mounted a sprocket wheel 41, whose hub is fixed to said shaft; and this sprocketis connected by a chain s2 with a smaller sprocket d3 fastened to the adjacent end of a horizontal shaft the latter being journaled in a caring bracketdo which is secured to the 'ear end the main sleeve or casing 9. haft eta is further provided with a worm which meshes with and is arworm wheel d7 carried J 1 ran ed to drive a by the rear end of the screw spindle, The

eer/gees worm wheel, however, is loosely mounted on said spindle, so that unless coupled to the latter in some way, its rotation will produce no movement of said spindle. The preferred form of coupling used in this connection is a clutch. constituted by a milled cap nut %8, (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), that is mounted on the spindle end directly in rear of the worm whee and is adapted to press the latter against a collar l9, fastened to the spindle end, with sufiicient force to set up a binding action between the two parts, with the result that the rotary movement of the worm wneel will then be transmitted to the spindle. On the other hand, when the nut 48 is loosened, the frictional engagement between the parts t7 and d9 will be broken, and the transmission from the worm shaft to the spindle, and vice versa, will be interrupted. The collar in addition to performing the function just stated, assists in retaining the spindle against endwise movement with relation to its carrier or casing 9, a second retaining collar being fixed to the front end of said spindle in contact with the inner wall of the hollow guide head 13.

The operation is substantially as follows, assuming that the various parts have been properly positioned upon the shaft or otiier work to be grooved, as indicated in Fig. 1, and that the several nuts and bolts as well the cap 48, have been tightened up, and the cutter 8 has been adjusted to the work:

The rotation of the small shaft 39 produced by the handle 4.0, will be transmitted through the gears 38 and 37 to the cutter shaft; and thence through the sprockets s1 and 4:3 and their connecting chain 42 to the worm shaft 44; and finally through the worm 46 and worm wheel a? to the spindle 12. The latter, on being rotated, will be caused to move through the collar 35 and consequently draws with it the casing or sleeve 9, the enlargement or guide-head 13 and its plate 1a, and the cutter shaft and cutter carried by said plate, during which movement the collar 35 itself remains stationary, owing to its connection with the stationary frame 11. As the movement of the cutter carrier proceeds, the cutter teeth will incise the surface of the work for the desired distance, and at the completion of such movement the carrier is returned to its starting point and the cutter is lowered to a slight extent by means of the adjusting screw 19 in order to deepen the previously made out at the next forward movement of the carrier.

The return movement of the carrier mi be effected, of course, merely by reve the direction of rotation of tne shat... The movement of the ca"rier producer y the operation of said shaft is here: i' very slow, however, and since a quick return is desirable for obvious reasons, this method is not satisfactory. To remedy what might otherwise prove a defect, advantage is taken of the clutch formed by the cap nut 48, which latter is loosened to break the frictional engagement between the worm wheel 47 and the collar 49 whereupon the handle 40 is removed from the shaft 39 and applied to the similarly-squared end of the spindle, which is then directly driven by turning said handle in the proper direction. This reverse rotation of the spindle immediately moves it backward through the collar 35 of the stationary frame 11, and, consequently, restores the cutter carrier to its original position.

It is to be observed that the main sleeve or casing 9 and the guide head 13 are in the form of a single casting, which is set very close, comparatively speaking, to the work, instead of being elevated considerably above the work as is frequently the case in machines of this general type. By virtue of this disposition, the leverage afforded the cutter,that is to say, the tendency which the cutter end of the machine has to raise the other end thereof, due to its weight and to the pressure imposed upon 'it,is reduced to a very great extent, because the sleeve 9 is held against upward movement by reason of its being directly attached to the said stationary frame 11, so that all danger of binding on the part of the spindle is obviated. In like manner, torsional strains are avoided or, in any event, neutralized, because of the rigidity of the afore-mentioned casting, and the stability of the relation between the latter and its supporting frames 10 and 11. Furthermore, the casting has substantially the same length as the, spindle, and the latter is held against endwise movement therein, so thatsaid spindle is freed from stresses which might otherwise tend to twist it in one way or another, on contradistinotion to the more general method of mounting in which the spindle and cutter head are apt to bind. at times, owing to the latter being mounted to travel along parallel guide rods and to the absence of satisfactory protective supports for the former.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a key-seatingmachine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a sleeve incasing the same; fiXed and movable frames connected to said sleeve and engaging the work, to support the sleeve in sliding relation to the work; a guide head connected to the front end of said sleeve; an adjustable cutter movablv related to said guide-head; means for rotating said cutter; and means for rotating said spindle to feed the latter, the sleeve, the guide-head, the cutter and the movable frame bodily toward the fixed frame. I

2 In akey seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a sleeve incasing the same; a frame rigidly connected with the work and embodying a tubular member through which said sleeve is arranged to slide; frame carried by said sleeve and slidablv engaged with the work, said frames conjointly supporting said sleeve upon the work; a cutter carried by said sleeve and connected to travel with the same; means for rotating said cutter; and means for rotating said spindle, to feed the latter and said cutter and second-named frame bodily toward said first-named frau'ie. V

3. In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a sleeve incasing the same; a frame rigidly connected with the work and embodying a tubular member through which said sleeve is arranged to slide; a frame carried by said sleeve and slidably engaged with the work; said frames conjointly supporting said sleeve upon the work; a cutter carried by said sleeve and connectedto travel with the same; means for rotating said cutter; and connections be tween said cutter and said spindle to transmit the rotary movement of the former to the latter, thereby to feed said spindle and said cutter and second named frame bodily toward said first-named frame.

- 4. In akey-seating machine, the combination of athreaded spindle; an endwise movable sleeve incasing said spindle and with which the same is connected to travel; a gear connected to the rear end of the spindle; a cutter located t the front end of the sleeve; a supporting frame rigidly connected with the work and with which the sleeve is slidably engaged; a frame carried by said sleeve and slidably engaged with the work, said frames conjointly supporting said sleeve upon the-work; means for rotating said cutter; and connections between said cutter and said gear to transmit the rotary movement of the cutter to the spindle, thereby to feed said spindle and said cutter and second-named frame bodily toward said first-named frame.

In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; an endwise movable sleeve incasing said spindle and with which'thesame is connected to travel; a gear connected to the rear end of the spindle; a cutter located at the front end of the sleeve; a supporting frame rigidly connected with the work and with which the sleeve is slidably engaged; a frame carried by said sleeve and slidably engaged with the work, said frames conjointly supporting said sleeve upon the work; means for rotating said cutter; connections between said cutter and said gear to transmit the rotary movementof the cutter to the spindle, thereby to feed said spindle and said cutter and second named frame bodily toward said first-named frame; and a clutch for closing and opening said connections.

6. In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; a gear loosely mounted on the rear end of the spindle; a cutter mounted on'the front end of the carrier; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; means for rotating said cutter; connections between said cutter and said gear to transmit the rotary movement of the former to the latter; and coupling means for releasably connecting said gear to said spindle for the useful purpose specified.

7. In a key seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise; front and rear collars fixed to said spindle and engaged with said carrier to cause the latter and the spindle to travel in unison; a gear loosely mounted on said spindle directlyadjacent the rear collar; a cutter mounted on the front end of the carrier; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; means for rotating said cutter; connections between said cutter and said gear to transmit the rotary movement of the former to the latter; and means for releasably holding said gear in binding engagement with said rear collar for the useful purpose specified.

8. In a key-seating machine the combination of a threaded spindle; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; a gear loosely mounted on the rear end of the spindle; a cutter mounted on the front end of the carrier: means for supporting said carrier upon the work; means for rotating said cutter; driving connections extending from said cutter to said gear, and including a clutch directly associated with the gear to couple it to said spindle, thereby to feed the spindle and its carrier and said cutter bodily along the work; and means for directly rotating said spindle in a reverse direction at the completion of the feed, after said clutch has been opened, to restore the spindle, cutter and carrier bodily to initial positions.

9. in a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle having a squared rear terminal; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; a cutter mountedon the front end of the carrier; a shaft connector to drive said cutter and having a squared terminal; a driving train leading from said cutter to said spindle to ransmit the rotary movement of the former to the latter, thereby to feed said spindle and its carrier and said cutter bodily along the work; and a clutch included in said driving train for alternatively completing and interrupting the drive; either of said squared terminals being alternately engage nesaees able with a handle to alternatively drive said shaft when said clutch is closed, or to directly drive said spindle in a reverse direction when said clutch is open, to restore the spindle, cutter and carrier bodily to initial positions.

10. In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a. carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; front and rear transverse shafts carried by said carrier; a cutter mounted on the front shaft; means for driving said front shaft; a chain and sprocket connection between said front shaft and the rear shaft for transmitting the rotary movement of the former to the latter; a worm secured to the rear shaft; a worm wheel in mesh therewith loosely mounted on the rear end of the spindle; and a clutch associated with said worm wheel to couple it to said spindle, thereby to feed said spindle and its carrier nd said cutter bodily along the work.

11. In a keyseating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; a shaft mounted at the front end of the carrier and provided With a cutter; means for rotating said shaft; and a driving train leading from said shaft to said spindle, to transmit the rotation of the former to the latter; said train including a device for completing or interrupting the drive.

12. In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle; a carrier therefor arranged to travel endwise, and with which said spindle is connected to travel; means for supporting said carrier upon the work; a shaft mounted at the front end of the carrier and provided with a cutter; means for rotating said shaft; and a driving train leading from said shaft to said spindle, to transmit the rotation of the former to the latter; thereby to feed said spindle and its carrier and said cutter bodily along the work; said train including a device for completing or interrupting the I drive; said spindle being directly and positively rotatable in a reverse direction when the drive is interrupted, to restore the spindle, carrier and cutter to initial position.

13. In a key-seating machine, the combi nation of a threaded spindle; a carrier sleeve therefor having a slot therein; a supporting frame for said sleeve rigidly connected with the work and embodying a tubular member incasing said sleeve and provided with an internallythreaded collar arranged interiorly of said sleeve and through which said spindle extends, said collar having a tongue projecting through the slot in said sleeve; a cutter mounted at the front end of said sleeve; means for rotating said cutter; means for rotating said spindle, thereby to feed the same through said collar; and connections between said spindle and said sleeve, to cause the latter and the cutter to travel in unison with said spindle, the sleeve moving through said tubular member.

14. In a key-seating machine, the combination of a threaded spindle, a carrier sleeve therefor having a slot therein; a frame rigidly connected with the work and embodying a tubular member incasing said sleeve and provided with an internallythreaded collar arranged interiorly of said sleeve and through which said spindle projects, said collar having a tongue projecting through said slot; a frame carried by said sleeve and slidably engaged with the work, said frames conjointly supporting said sleeve upon the work; a cutter mounted at the front end of said sleeve; means for rotating said cutter; means for rotating said spindle, thereby to feed the same through said collar; and connections between said spindle and said sleeve, to cause the latter, the cutter and the second-named frame to travel in unison with said spindle toward the first-named frame, the sleeve moving through said tubular member.

15. In a key seating machine, a frame having means for fixed mounting upon a piece of wor r, a hollow carrier supported by and movable in said frame, the carrier having a guide head at one end and means carried by the guide head for sliding engagement with the work, a tool mounted upon the guide head, a device incased by the carrier and operatively connected with it and the frame for moving the carrier with respect to the frame to advance the tool along the work,

and direct and indirect means for operating said device to provide for a relatively fast return movement of the carrier as compared with the advance movement of the same.

16. In a key seating machine, a frame hav ing means for fixed mounting upon a piece of work, a hollow tool carrying member supported by and movable in said frame, a device interior to the hollow tool carrying member and operatively connected with it and the frame to effect movement of the carrier with respect to the frame, and direct and indirect means for operating said device to provide for a relatively fast return movement of the carrier as compared with the advance movement of the same.

17. In a key seating machine, a frame having means for fixed mounting upon a piece of work, a carrier longitudinally movable in said frame, the carrier having a guide head at one end, means carried by the guide head for sliding engagement with the work, and a tool mounted upon the guide head.

18. In a key seating machine, a frame having means for fixed mounting upon a piece of work, a carrier longitudinally movable in said frame, the carrier having a guide head at one end, means carried by the guide head for sliding engagement with the work, a tool mounted upon the guide head and direct and indirect means for moving the carrier with respect to the frame, whereby a relatively slow advance movement and a relatively fastreturn are provided.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Gno. L. BRoKAw, HARRY BROKAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

